Bill Tieleman is one of BC's best known communicators, political commentators and strategists.
Bill is a political panelist regularly on CBC Radio and TV in BC and with other media.
Bill has been Communications Director in the B.C. Premier's Office and at the BC Federation of Labour.
Bill owns West Star Communications, a consulting firm providing strategy and communication services for labour, business, non-profits and government.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

BC Liberal-geddon? Will Gordon Campbell take party to Eve of Destruction? New poll - BC Libs 23%, BC NDP 46%

Premier Gordon Campbell in February dress rehearsal

for BC Liberals total freefall in polls - popularity now zip

The imposition of the Harmonized Sales Tax by Premier Gordon Campbell has led the BC Liberal Party to the political Eve of Destruction a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll shows.The BC Liberals have dropped another 3% to just 23% in the poll, taken after the HST was implemented on July 1, while the BC NDP is at 46%, the Green Party at 14% and the BC Conservative Party at 8%.The most disturbing news for the HST-backing BC Liberal MLAs? That 67% of their voters would sign a Recall campaign petition to remove them from office while only 16% of BC Liberal riding voters would definitely not. Recall can begin in mid-November.The HST is clearly killing the Campbell government - 76% oppose the tax, 75% would vote against it in a referendum and 73% say they will be either severely or moderately impacted by the HST personally. Only 4% expect no impact.70% of the 801 respondents to the poll also say they will eat out in restaurants less because of the HST, 62% will cut back on sporting events and concerts, 60% will reduce going to the movies and 55% will buy fewer newspapers and magazines.

For Campbell himself, the news is even more grim. 72% of respondents have a worse opinion of the premier after the last three months - just 1% have a better view.NDP leader Carole James isn't immune from criticism despite her party's 46% standing however, with 18% of respondents saying their opinion of her has worsened versus 10% who say it has improved.Green Party leader Jane Sterk has also dropped 3% in respondents' opinions.The political ramifications of the HST on BC politics are clearly significant and with no end in sight.

UPDATE: The fallout from the poll continues.

Angus Reid Public Opinion VP Mario Canseco says the BC Liberal fall since the May 2009 provincial election is stunning.

"This shows they've lost half of the voters that they had in the last election, which is a monumental decline," told CTV BC.

And Global TV's Victoria Bureau Chief Keith Baldrey - writing in the Surrey Now - says that former BC Liberal Finance Minister Carole Taylor is warming up in the wings to take over from the hapless Campbell.

"Of all the potential heirs to Gordon Campbell's leadership, only Taylor can separate herself from the current government, particularly over the issue of the HST," Baldrey writes

I don't understand, why the BC Liberal Ministers, don't ask Campbell to step down? The BC Liberal party, is shredded into tatters. Perhaps they know the party is finished. Their HST propaganda isn't going to work. Grocery shopping is a total mess. The HST, on a pastry bun, goes by sugar content. Less sugar, no HST, the other bun with more sugar, has the HST applied. Bottled drinks, the HST depends on size. I ended up, getting a carry basket, to throw all the HST items back. Only a lunatic, could have made such an asinine mess.

For the same reason why a few Social Credit Ministers asked VanderZalm to step down and he didn't when asked to do so.

The BC Liberal party, is shredded into tatters. Perhaps they know the party is finished. Their HST propaganda isn't going to work. Grocery shopping is a total mess. The HST, on a pastry bun, goes by sugar content. Less sugar, no HST, the other bun with more sugar, has the HST applied. Bottled drinks, the HST depends on size. I ended up, getting a carry basket, to throw all the HST items back. Only a lunatic, could have made such an asinine mess.

"NDP needs to be a party of the moderate left. The days of catering to the "Solidarity Forever" left wingers is over."

I wish you could see past your obvious bias and base your opinion on a truer picture of reality.

Start with the premise that working people are okay. Add to that: Working people who join democratic organizations called unions rather that let their interests be taken care of by the kind graces of right wing employers, are pretty smart to start with.

Now please understand this fundamental truth while you are at it....Working people ARE their unions!

They also have lone opinions like you and just as much of a vote.

You wish that your lone opinion counted more than theirs I guess. It in effect, counts less unless you are politically active in some other way like through the coporporate boardrooms supporting their Liberals.

What makes you so sure that a group of moderate left working people are not going to be represented by moderate left leaders and spokespersons?

I am hoping with your strong anti-union opinions, that you do hold your nose and vote for someone. I also hope you enhance that vote by convincing others to vote the same way. That is how democracy works.

Your chances of cancelling out your own vote by promoting negative, trite, tiresome, cliches about those that you would vote for is quite significant in my view and not too bright.

"I wish you could see past your obvious bias and base your opinion on a truer picture of reality."

Look at the bigger picture.

Start with the premise that working people are okay. Add to that: Working people who join democratic organizations called unions rather that let their interests be taken care of by the kind graces of right wing employers, are pretty smart to start with. "

Well begin with anyone who gets a paycheque is considered a "working person".

Not everyone who works needs to join a union. You won't find unions in IT companies or in many small businesses.

"Now please understand this fundamental truth while you are at it....Working people ARE their unions!"

Working people are also non-union.

"They also have lone opinions like you and just as much of a vote."

Yeah right with some unions. A few are filled with power hungry people.

"You wish that your lone opinion counted more than theirs I guess."

If it is to be, it is up to me.

"It in effect, counts less unless you are politically active in some other way like through the coporporate boardrooms supporting their Liberals. "

Stereotype there. Just as the NDP is supported by the union headquarters and the shop stewards?

"What makes you so sure that a group of moderate left working people are not going to be represented by moderate left leaders and spokespersons? "

Quite the contrary. If the NDP got rid of the more left wing elements and became more moderate and not pander to Big Union, then they would get somewhere.

"I am hoping with your strong anti-union opinions, that you do hold your nose and vote for someone. I also hope you enhance that vote by convincing others to vote the same way. That is how democracy works."

Sure does, and I am not anti-union. They have their place, but they certainly should not have a monopoly on working persons (in other words, anyone who get a paycheque every two weeks).

"Your chances of cancelling out your own vote by promoting negative, trite, tiresome, cliches about those that you would vote for is quite significant in my view and not too bright."

Same can be said to you too.

Many people do not work for large corporations, but rather small business, and are very happy.

and by the way I have worked in union shops. Best one I worked in was represented by the Teamsters.

"I wish you could see past your obvious bias and base your opinion on a truer picture of reality."

Look at the bigger picture.

Start with the premise that working people are okay. Add to that: Working people who join democratic organizations called unions rather that let their interests be taken care of by the kind graces of right wing employers, are pretty smart to start with. "

Well begin with anyone who gets a paycheque is considered a "working person".

Not everyone who works needs to join a union. You won't find unions in IT companies or in many small businesses.

"Now please understand this fundamental truth while you are at it....Working people ARE their unions!"

Working people are also non-union.

"They also have lone opinions like you and just as much of a vote."

Yeah right with some unions. A few are filled with power hungry people.

"You wish that your lone opinion counted more than theirs I guess."

If it is to be, it is up to me.

"It in effect, counts less unless you are politically active in some other way like through the coporporate boardrooms supporting their Liberals. "

Stereotype there. Just as the NDP is supported by the union headquarters and the shop stewards?

"What makes you so sure that a group of moderate left working people are not going to be represented by moderate left leaders and spokespersons? "

Quite the contrary. If the NDP got rid of the more left wing elements and became more moderate and not pander to Big Union, then they would get somewhere.

"I am hoping with your strong anti-union opinions, that you do hold your nose and vote for someone. I also hope you enhance that vote by convincing others to vote the same way. That is how democracy works."

Sure does, and I am not anti-union. They have their place, but they certainly should not have a monopoly on working persons (in other words, anyone who get a paycheque every two weeks).

"Your chances of cancelling out your own vote by promoting negative, trite, tiresome, cliches about those that you would vote for is quite significant in my view and not too bright."

Same can be said to you too.

Many people do not work for large corporations, but rather small business, and are very happy.

and by the way I have worked in union shops. Best one I worked in was represented by the Teamsters.

I don't really think Taylor is as much of a Dauphin as everyone seems to think she is. She was part of the government until 2009 and we all know the Liberals had to be planning to introduce the HST before the election, considering the timing of the tax. I'd like to know what she knew about it back then? Of course she'll claim "nothing", but I'm not sure I believe her.

In addition, can she even win a BC Liberal leadership contest. She's sitting on the sidelines criticizing the party, while her former colleagues take their lumps. Are they going to be pleased to support her as she jumps on them? And in any case isn't she from the more L/liberal wing of the party? Will the C/conservatives line up behind her?

Let us not forget that the majority of good/high working conditions were won through the unions for the last 100 years or so. That means the benifits non union workers enjoy are also tied to the efforts of the unions.

Unions did a lot to ensure safe working practices, good health care, work safe legislation and the list goes on.

Don't be too quick to "knock the unions" - you benifit greatly from their efforts. Don't think for one minute, that companies give you benifits out of the good of their hearts. They are forced to or they just won't get people working for them - again, non union companies treating workers better because of the unions and their fight over the years.

"Let us not forget that the majority of good/high working conditions were won through the unions for the last 100 years or so. That means the benifits non union workers enjoy are also tied to the efforts of the unions."

True, no question, but a few unions have gotten too political and away from why they exist and that is to ensure good representation for the workers to the employers.

"Unions did a lot to ensure safe working practices, good health care, work safe legislation and the list goes on."

They did but not nearly as much now. Its more of being a bit greedyand unreleastic in changing economic times

"Don't be too quick to "knock the unions" - you benifit greatly from their efforts. Don't think for one minute, that companies give you benifits out of the good of their hearts. They are forced to or they just won't get people working for them - again, non union companies treating workers better because of the unions and their fight over the years."

Yes and no. But don't think non union businesses are all bad. Many aren't a few are. I've worked in both. One that should have been sued for how they paid the workers, another kept the workers very happy and was a delight to work within.

I think, Carol James, is letting the Liberals, cut their own throats. Why interfere, with them, when they are doing such a good job, on their own. That dictator Campbell, had to lie, deceive and cheat to win, says it all.

Bill Tieleman and Senator Larry Campbell, former Vancouver mayor

Jim Sinclair, Cindy Oliver, Ken Georgetti and Bill Tieleman

Bill Tieleman's coverage of the Basi-Virk/BC Legislature Raid Case praised by other journalists:

"This outstanding piece of journalism, in The Tyee, is the work of a journalist who has been deeply involved with this issue from the start and this article should be passed on as far and wide as possible."

"Bill Tieleman from 24 hours . . . . If you want to know about this trial and about this case, you have to read his blog – I mean, that’s just all there is to it – it’s required reading if you want to understand the BC Legislature Raid situation."

- Mike Smyth, columnist, The Province

"The Basi-Virk case....you’ve probably sat through more of these hearings and gone through more of the files and written about it than any other journalist in the province."

- Bill Good, host, The Bill Good Show, CKNW/Corus Radio Network

"Tieleman ...has done a first-rate job covering the trial."

- Paul Willcocks, columnist, the Victoria Times-Colonist

"Tieleman, who marries a considerable journalistic talent with one of the smartest political minds in the province, has been writing more web-exclusive material. And his coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is a must-read -- whether you're an insider or an outsider."

"24 Hours, the Vancouver paper that has been leading the coverage, as well as the hints of conspiracy in B.C."

- Norman Spector, columnist, Globe and Mail

"Although the major media in this circumstance has been giving the case significant coverage, Tieleman's reports on his blog have been outstanding.

The entire cut and thrust of legal wrangling and arguments has been covered and is accompanied by considered analysis.....His blog site coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is the most in depth treatment of one of British Columbia's biggest political scandals."

- Bill Bell, columnist, The North Shore News

"Mr. Tieleman has published online dispatches which, freed from the limitations of newsprint space or broadcast time, can run at length. They also remain available for those select readers who become obsessed with a case also known as Railgate.....

In another bizarre twist to a story with no shortage of them, Mr. Tieleman went to work one day in December only to discover his office had been ransacked. Bookcases had been tipped over and papers strewn, but nothing was missing.

To top it off, a press kit for the self-published novel The Raid, written by a retired military officer in Metchosin and featuring on its cover a photograph from the 2003 police raid, had been left in a conspicuous place."

- Tom Hawthorn, columnist, The Globe and Mail

Nobody has followed the Basi-Virk affair over its past five years with greater diligence than local journalist, Bill Tieleman....Tieleman deserves our thanks, a fistful of journalism awards and some merit citation for citizenship.